RISE AND SHOUT THE COUGARS ARE OUT!!!!

So, my Mom, Erin, Shannon, Patti, JD, McKayla, Addie, Shane, and Jimmer (all relatives, yes, Jimmer is my relative, and I am not talking about the one on the court) are in the midst of March Madness via Denver at this very moment.  And not long from now they will be watching the Cougs go at the Zags (They went on a whim and I kept asking my mom, "How much is this going to cost?"  She said, "Oh honey, I can't tell you that."  Ever since my dad died she keeps saying, "All I have is money."  I am not sure what that means, but it usually works in my favor!)
This being on my mind, I went to say my morning prayers and started praying for Jimmer Fredette and the rest of the the kids that play for BYU.  I finished...looked at myself funny, and thought, "Should I really be praying for a basketball team?"   The next thought that ran through my mind was, "Do you think Jimmer Fredette's mom is praying for a basketball team this morning?"  That settled it!   In the name of sisterhood, I have said lots of prayers today!
For the last couple of days Jared and I have been contemplating something rather large.  When we finally went to bed last night Jared said, "Well, have you prayed about it?"  I said, "Well, that depends on how you define the word pray?"  I began to explain to him that, although not obvious to most people, I am constantly talking to myself.  "Heavenly Father Please help me.....Heavenly Father why....." Alma talks about, "cry(ing) unto Him when ye are in your fields, yea, over all your flocks," my field is my kitchen, and my flocks are my kids.  I have the best "conversations" when I am cooking and cleaning.  After talking to myself for two days I told Jared that I had prayed about it and I was good with the decision. 
And while that decision is final, the other little matter of prayer is not!  I am afraid that the Cougars are going to need all of our prayers tonight, so get with it!  LET'S GO COUGARS!

Never Suppress a Generous Thought!

Imagine for a moment that you are sitting around our very LARGE kitchen table reading scriptures with my family.  Now imagine that you have heard this exact conversation probably 25 times.    Mom says, "So you have to listen to the Spirit and He will tell you what you need to do"...Ally says, "Mom, how do I know when the Spirit is talking to me?"…Mom says, "Um, Well, You know.  DAD, TELL HER HOW SHE WILL KNOW…"  Now this part will be really hard to imagine, Dad is no longer at the table, he has since taken Gary to his bedroom or he is cleaning up WHATEVER Joseph has thrown all over everyone.  I am stuck with the question and end up trying to describe something that I really do know, but have NO IDEA how to explain.  

It got me thinking...Am I listening to the Spirit?  Am I following His promptings?  Do I really know what I think I know?  After thinking about it for quite some time, I decided to do an experiment. 

1. I got a notebook out.
2. I wrote down EVERYTHING I "thought" was a prompting.
3. I tried really hard to follow through with everything  I had written down before the day had ended. 

Please let me report my findings:

1. Most of my promptings came in the EARLY MORNING HOURS DURING MY SCRIPTURE STUDY.
2. The Spirit is not overwhelming.  I had this crazy idea that if I started following through on all of these "good ideas", I would have no time for the ESSENTIAL things that must be done each day in my home.  Which seems almost ridiculous to me now.  If Heavenly Father knows my current load, He also knows my current capacity.  I could follow the Spirit and not ignore my family responsibilities. 
3. When you follow through on a prompting, and it doesn't end up how you thought it should.  It doesn't mean that it wasn't a prompting.
4. The Spirit works by simple means….A prompting to write a quick note, a phone call, a drop-in visit…..This was a great relief to me.  I am a simple person.  I know it is hard to believe, but I CAN imagine Relief Society WITHOUT A TABLECLOTH and an Elementary School Party without a fruit tray.  Crazy, I know!
5. Finally, IF I FOLLOWED THROUGH WITH SOMETHING QUICKLY, I FELT GOOD ABOUT IT.  (I have this personal problem. When I first receive a prompting I think it sounds like a terrific idea, as I let time slip by, I begin to feel embarrassed, like someone is going to think I am stalking them when I just wanted to help.  When HELPING contends with SELF DIGNITY, self dignity always wins." Sister Kimball said, "NEVER SUPPRESS A GENEROUS THOUGHT." 

If you are running out of time, this would be a great time to stop reading my post.  If not, please continue, this is the BEST PART.  In our local newspaper last week, there was a letter from a lady that has been in our valley doing construction for the past several months. It goes as follows: 

I am writing to you all to say that my job has come to an end as most of the jobs in my field do. But I wanted you all to know that you had a great impact in my life and were such a blessing to see each and everyday.
This letter is directed to all those kids that made sure they waved each morning and rolled down there windows to yell “hi”; to the parents that would slow down so I could say hello to their kids; to the family that brought me hot chocolate every morning; to the family that brought me fruit and scriptures; to the family with the little “hi five kids,” you know who you are. I treasure each and everyone of you.
To all the parents and people that were headed to school and work every morning to be inconvenienced by the construction zones, thank you for your patience and your smiles.
It truly was a great experience to work in your community. I will always remember the small town in Nevada with the friendly people.
God bless you all!
Nikki McCabe
Lady With The Pink Hard Hat

NEVER SUPPRESS A GENEROUS THOUGHT!

There is No Such Thing as a Personal Decision

I have been wanting to write this post for a long time.  It seems like today is a fitting day to do it.  You see, today marks a year...Last year on March 14th, a Sunday, all six girls and a really brave mom, stood by my dad's bedside as he STRUGGLED, and finally left this earth life.  So instead of bawling all day, which I could easily do, I am going to pass on one of the greatest lessons Joseph Delaney Foster, my dad, ever taught me.....There is no such thing as a personal decision. 
Every decision that we make effects people....lots of people.  Unborn people, old people, young people, people that watch us, related people, people that love us and have a vested interest in us....PEOPLE.   Do you see the alarm this might cause to Satan--the influence we have to effect people in so many good ways?  So he counterattacks, as he always does, with sayings like this:  It is my life, I can do what I want!  I am just expressing my individuality!  Nobody will ever know!  I can repent later!....... Maybe a few came to your mind as well.  These are lies.  Everything we do effects PEOPLE. 
There are BIG decisions that have BIG consequences - Marriage in the temple, being morally clean, staying active in the Church, --These decisions will show their fruits (good or bad) for years and generations to come. 
There are small decisions that also have BIG consequences - the language I use, having weekly family home evening, the movies I watch...These decisions will also show their fruits for generations to come.

So today I would like to thank my dad for being ever-aware of this eternal truth. These are some of the "Personal Decisions" that he made......
*To be baptized and join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
*To marry my mom!
*To read his scriptures - even during Algebra class!
*To make spiritual topics a common discussion in our home. 
*To pray for ME and my concerns during family prayer.
*To WORK hard!  Even when he wasn't feeling good, he WORKED. 
*To teach all of his kids how to work - he disregarded all Child Labor Laws.
*To take me to church (okay, I must accredit this one to my mom...having six girls ready, hair done, teeth brushed, never late.  But my dad did have an awfully good view of the entire thing from the stand.) 
*To always love my mom.
*I NEVER heard him talk crude or inappropriately about sacred things - NEVER! 
*For choosing to be with me and my sisters, when he had plenty of offers to be somewhere else.
*For taking us on a family vacation every year.
*For letting my sisters and I always be a part of the conversation.......
This post is too long already, but I assure you, it will continue on in my head for years and years to come.  I love my dad!